The horse, previous to moving forward, should be made to collect
himself, to arch his neck, and to stand evenly upon both his hind legs,
for thereupon depends the balance of the horse's body, his lightness in
hand, and proper carriage.
_To advance._--The lady should call the attention of the horse, by an
increased bearing upon the reins, and at the same time should animate
him, by closing the leg, and using the whip gently on the right flank;
having communicated a sufficient impulse to the horse, to carry him
forward, she should at the same moment, by turning up the back of her
hand, ease the pressure upon the reins, and prevent him to move forward:
but she should not slacken the reins, because by doing so, the horse's
head and neck may relapse into a position, which the hand cannot
control.
To turn the horse, Colonel GREENWOOD in his book of "Hints on
Horsemanship" observes, "When you wish to turn to the right, pull the
right rein stronger than the left; this is common sense--the common
error is, when you wish to turn to the right, to pass the hand to the
right, by which the right rein is slackened, and the left rein
tightened, across the horse's neck; and the horse is required to turn to
the right, when the left rein is pulled."
_To turn to the right._--The hand, holding the reins the proper length,
and having a correct appui or feeling of the horse's mouth, must not be
moved from its position, in a line with the crest; but the tightening of
the rein, must be effected, by turning the wrist; the little finger,
with the first joint pressing against the rein, is raised, and turned
towards the right shoulder; thus giving a double feeling, or pressure
upon the right rein, and turning the horse's head in the desired
direction, the pressure of the left rein against the neck, which
follows, induces the horse to turn to the right. Or the right hand may
be placed upon the right rein, to tighten it. The pressure with the left
leg, should at the same time be increased, to prevent the horse from
throwing his hind quarters too much outwards, or to the left. The
rider's body should incline inwards, and face the direction turning to.
If the whip be used, it should be applied upon the left shoulder, with a
continued pressure, till the turn has been completed.
_To turn to the left._--The lady should increase the bearing upon the
left rein, by turning the back of her hand downwards, so as to bring the
little finger towards the left shoulder; at the same time, she should
apply the whip to the horse's right flank, to make him collect himself,
and to prevent him, from throwing his hind-quarters too much to the
right; when the horse has completed the turn, the bearing and pressure
should be equalized, to induce the horse to move straight forward.
The horse, when at a stop, may be made to turn quite round by making him
move his hind-quarters only.
_To circle the horse to the right, on his fore-hand._--The lady should
apply her leg, to the horse's side, as far back as she can; to induce
him to step to the right, with his hind legs; at the same time, she must
increase the bearing upon the left rein; if the horse does not readily
obey the pressure of the foot, she may pass her hand behind her waist,
and touch the horse with the whip gently on his left flank.
_To circle the horse to the left, on the forehand._--The lady should
apply the whip gently to the horse's right flank, to induce him to step
to the left, she should have a double bearing upon the right rein, and
she should at the same time press her foot against the horse's side, as
far forward as she can, to oppose the movement of the fore-legs.
The horse can be made to turn on his hind legs, by the movement only of
his fore-hand. The lady _to turn the horse to the right_, must apply her
leg as far back as possible, to keep the horse's haunches steady; at the
same time, she should with the bit, bend the horse's head a little to
the right, to induce him to step with his fore-feet to the right. If
necessary, the whip may be used, by gentle touches upon the left
shoulder.
_To turn on the haunches to the left._--The lady must press her whip on
the horse's right flank, and her leg, against his side as far forward as
possible, at the same time, she should communicate an impulse to the
horse, to step to the left, to turn the horse quite round when in
movement; the lady should first bring her horse to a momentary stop, and
then proceed to turn him.
_To stop._--The lady must close her leg smartly to the horse's side, to
make him bring his haunches under him; at the same instant she must
increase the bearing upon the reins, gradually yet firmly, by turning
the back of her bridle hand downwards, and drawing it back, and upwards;
the body should also be thrown backwards, to give weight to the pull: as
soon as the horse has obeyed the check and remains still, the lady
should ease the bearing upon the reins. If the lady does not give an
impulse to the horse, by the pressure of her leg to his side, to bring
his haunches under him, but merely pulls the bridle, the horse might be
stopped by strength of arm, but it would be entirely on his fore-hand;
and she would be thrown up and down in her saddle, in a very helpless
way.
The stop should not be made too suddenly.
_Reining back._--The great use of reining back, is to render the horse
obedient, and tractable. The lady should first make her horse collect
himself, when well balanced, she should communicate an impulse to the
horse, by the pressure of her leg and whip to his sides, to induce him
to raise one of his hind feet, at the moment of his doing so, she should
double the feeling upon both reins, by drawing her hand back, and
turning her little finger up towards her chest; the horse, to recover
his balance, will step back. The movement of the hand must be repeated,
at each step of the horse; should the horse bring his haunches too much
under him, the bearing upon the reins must be eased, and the pressure of
the leg and whip, increased, to give him a forward impulse.
The horse must not be allowed to hurry, or run back out of hand, nor to
diverge from the straight line; he should be guided, by an increased
pressure of either rein, as may be necessary, and by an additional
pressure with the leg, or whip, to keep his hind-quarters in the desired
direction.
_Reining in._--The object desired is, to make the horse assume a more
correct balance. The lady should shorten her reins a little, by drawing
them through her left hand, thus keeping the bit-hand low and steady,
with an extra bearing upon the reins; she should with her right hand,
play with the snaffle rein, and at the same time, communicate to the
horse a forward impulse; the horse feeling the bit to be an
insurmountable obstacle, will, in place of throwing his weight forward,
bring his haunches under him. Should the urging indication be applied
too abruptly, the horse may throw so much weight forward, as to pull the
reins out of the rider's hands; if used judiciously, and controlled by
the hand, the horse will collect himself, arch his neck, champ the bit,
and be ready for any movement.
This practice gives the horse confidence, for most young horses are
afraid of the bit; and if frightened by too sudden a jerk upon the reins
will never after, go kindly up to hand. The lady having learnt the
indications necessary, to induce the horse to move either, his fore-hand
round his haunches, or his croup round his fore-hand; may next proceed
to apply them, so as to induce the horse to move diagonally, or
sideways.
_Shoulder in._--In this movement the horse's body is bent more or less.
The pupil should separate her reins, and take one in each hand, holding
them rather short; if the horse is to move to the left, her right hand
must be drawn back to her hip, to bend the horse's head to the right,
her left hand should be advanced to guide the horse, she must apply her
whip by light touches to the horse's right side, in line with the
girths, to induce him to step diagonally.
_Passaging._--Signifies moving side ways.--If the retaining and urging
indications be given with equal force, but the right rein be felt the
stronger, the horse will incline to the right; to induce him to move his
hind quarters also in that direction, the urging indication upon the
left flank must be increased, by the rider applying her leg to the
horse's side, as far back as she can, if necessary, she may pass her
whip behind her waist, and touch the horse with it, on his left flank.
In passaging to the left, the whip should be used by gentle touches, on
the horse's right shoulder, or flank as may be necessary.
The rider should lean to the side, the horse is moving to.